CHINE, DYNASTIE QING, ÉPOQUE KANGXI (1662-1722)

The form is inspired by bronze gu vessels of the Shang and Zhou dynasties, featuring a tall, slender silhouette, flared mouth and foot, and a neck decorated with plantain leaves inlaid with scrolling blossoms, details executed with exquisite precision. The main decoration on the body presents the suihan sanyou (“Three Friends of Winter”): a gnarled pine with vigorous branches, bamboo leaves rendered with airy elegance, and prunus blossoms sprouting from gracefully angled twigs. Arranged across the enamel ground, these motifs convey the virtues of the gentleman and reflect refined literati taste.
Although the apocryphal Jingtai mark on the base reflects the Ming–Qing penchant for archaism, the vase’s elegant archaistic form, sophisticated literati-inspired decoration, and vibrant Kangxi palette firmly identify it as a product of the early Qing imperial workshops.